Tuesday elections tally: $130.2 million

Voters across Idaho said yes to at least $130.2 million in school bond issues and levies Tuesday night. Meanwhile, two big school districts will see some School Board shakeups.

Among Tuesday’s headlines:

Voters in Canyon County’s rapidly growing Vallivue School District said yes to a $50 million bond issue. The bond issue received a 75 percent yes vote, well over the two-thirds majority needed to pass. The bulk of the money will go toward building a second high school. (Details from the Idaho Press-Tribune.)

Lewiston voters approved a five-year renewal of a tax levy that accounts for 29 percent of the district’s budget. The value of the levy varies based on property value, but it was worth $10.2 million in 2012-13 — which means a five-year extension could easily be worth $51 million or more. The levy received a 86 percent landslide, according to the Lewiston Tribune.

Two newcomers will get a shot at guiding the beleaguered Nampa School District out of a $5.1 million deficit. Mike Fuller trounced incumbent Dale Wheeler, and Brian McGourty won an open race to succeed retiring board President Scott Kido. Retired teacher Bob Otten was re-elected to the board. (Details from the Idaho Press-Tribune.)

In a series of School Board elections with partisan overtones, Coeur d’Alene voters ousted two incumbents who were backed by the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans: Brent Regan and Ann Seddon. Christa Hazel defeated Regan and Dave Eubanks unseated Seddon. Tom Hearn took an open board seat. The winners were backed by a political action committee called Balance North Idaho. (Details from the Spokane Spokesman-Review.)

In Salmon, voters rejected a pair of bond issues to replace, or repair, aging elementary and middle schools. They rejected a $14.6 million bond issue to replace the schools, and a $3.6 million bond issue for roof repairs; both needed a two-thirds majority, and according to the Post Register, neither received even a simple majority. Tuesday was the ninth time voters rejected a school bond. It’s now likely that the state will loan the district money for the roof repairs — and patrons will have to pay off the debt.

The second time around was kinder to two school districts, where voters approved levies they had rejected in March. St. Maries approved a two-year, $3.7 million levy, while Hansen approved a two-year, $190,000 levy.

Parma and Wilder (COSSA): Both districts approved 10-year levies to help fund the Canyon-Owyhee School Service Agency, which provides special education, gifted and talented and professional technical programs.